Qantas and Emirates have received approval for the last major element of their strategic alliance, with New Zealand’s Transport Minister authorising coordination of fares and schedules on trans-Tasman routes. In approving the arrangement, Minister Gerry Brownlee said the alliance would be beneficial to passengers, exporters and the New Zealand tourism sector. “Qantas and Emirates will
Turkish Airlines has taken a bipartisan approach to big aircraft orders, last month having placed its largest ever order with Airbus for 82 A320s, continues its aggressive expansion plans with an order for 40 737 MAX 8s, 10 737 MAX 9s and 20 current model 737-800s. In a deal valued at US$6.9 billion at list
Remote communities will benefit from an additional $9.9 million over the next two years to upgrade airstrips, the federal government announced in its 2013/14 budget. The additional funding, provided under the ‘Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program’, is for aviation safety upgrades on a co-funding basis and to provide for a higher proportion of funding for works
US control towers to remain open – for now
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has confirmed that 149 contract air traffic control towers planned for closure next month as a result of federal budget cuts will instead remain open to September 30, the end of the financial year in the US. The reprieve will give time for the DOT and the FAA to
Tower simulator improves ATC refresher training
Air Traffic Controllers at Airways in New Zealand are undertaking vastly improved refresher training through the use of the organisation’s world-renowned air traffic control simulator. The simulator allows controllers’ ratings to be refreshed in an environment exactly replicating their airfield tower, with seasonal variations such as fog ensuring controllers’ training is up to the minute.
A350 emerges from the paintshop
Airbus has eschewed the traditional lavish ‘rollout’ ceremony for its new A350 XWB twin. Instead, Airbus employees in Toulouse “welcomed” MSN001 after it emerged from the paint shop on Monday. The aircraft was painted in under seven days after the completion of MSN001’s flight test instrumentation verification. MSN001’s engines were installed last month, following which it underwent
